Written Answers Friday 31 October 2008

Scottish Executive

Business Experts and Law Forum

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report from the Business Experts and Law Forum will be published.

Fergus Ewing: I am delighted to announce that the report from the Business Experts and Law Forum will be published on Monday 3 November 2008.

  Effective and modern legal and criminal justice systems, underpinning a safer and stronger Scotland, provide an essential sound basis for conducting business and securing growth. A supportive business environment will contribute towards creating the best possible environment for competitive businesses, entrepreneurship and innovation to flourish.

  The report makes recommendations in five key areas; Scotland as a centre for dispute resolution; the Commercial Court of the Court of Session: alternative dispute resolution; growing the Legal Market, and selling Scotland’s Legal System and Profession.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-16024 and S3W-16025 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, whether all significant initiatives involve the same procedure for approval as that outlined in the answer to the latter question.

Fergus Ewing: Ministerial approval is sought for all significant funding proposals.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the private and public treatment centres that combine treatment for mental health problems and addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Fergus Ewing: Since the member raised this issue at the parliamentary debate on the drugs strategy on 4 June, we have been working with the Scottish Drugs Forum to update the National Directory of Drug Treatment Services, available at www.scottishdrugservices.com , to include those services which deal with both mental health and drug problems. This work is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

  Information on services dealing with both mental health and alcohol problems is not held centrally. However, some information on available services can be found on the Alcohol Focus Scotland website at -  www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/getting_help/where_can_i_get_help.

Efficient Government

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the Efficient Government Outturn Report for 2007-08.

John Swinney: We have today published the final Efficient Government Outturn Report for the 2005-2008 Efficient Government programme. It shows that efficiency gains of £1.74 billion were made in 2007-08, against the previous administration’s aspirational target of £1.5 billion. Copies have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46783) and the report is also available on the internet at www.scotland.gov.uk//Publications/2008/10/Outturn2008 .

European Union

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it believes the benefits would be of Stornoway black pudding having protected geographical status within the European Union in support of its distinct status and to distinguish it from other products that may trade as Stornoway-style black pudding.

Richard Lochhead: I commend the black pudding makers of Stornoway for their high-quality product. The European legislation on Protection of Traditional Food Names provides legal protection for registered products against imitation. My officials are arranging to meet the producers to explain the procedures and discuss the next steps should the producers wish to apply for registration of the name Stornoway Black Pudding.

Gaelic Language

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding Glasgow City Council will receive as its share from recently announced funding for Gaelic education.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Glasgow Gaelic School will benefit from the recent funding announcement about Gaelic education.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is committed to the promotion of Gaelic and recognises the vital role that Gaelic education has to play in this. The announcement made by the First Minister referred to funding that will be available in the next two financial years and at this point it is too early to provide an indication of future allocations.

Justice

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time has been for completing community service orders in 2008 and what it was in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.

Meat Industry

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for small slaughterhouses, including those on islands, that are experiencing challenging economic conditions.

Richard Lochhead: Support is available directly though the Food Processing Marketing and Co-operation Grant Scheme towards the construction of new facilities, the upgrading of existing facilities, and the purchase of plant and equipment. Support can also be available through this scheme to assist an abattoir business to work with producers and processors to develop new products and markets.

  The proposed new charging system Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) will also set aside £10 million in GB each year to provide reduced MHS inspection charges for plants assessed to be economically vulnerable, i.e. those with low throughputs which will include remote and island slaughterhouses.

Meat Industry

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for the establishment of new slaughterhouses.

Richard Lochhead: Support is available through the Food Processing Marketing and Co-operation Grant Scheme towards the construction of new facilities, the upgrading of existing facilities, and the purchase of plant and equipment.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) recommended capacity and (b) average number of inmates held at each (i) prison and (ii) young offenders institution has been in each of the last 12 months.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table illustrates the average daily population for each establishment in each of the last 12 months against the design capacity and assessed operational limit for each.

  

 
 Design Capacity
 Assessed Operational Limit
 2007 Month


 Daily Average Population
 
 
 10
 11
 12


 Aberdeen
 155
 255
 242
 223
 228


 Barlinnie
 1,018
 1,692
 1,479
 1,407
 1,332


 Cornton Vale
 375
 440
 380
 369
 359


 Dumfries
 179
 216
 199
 205
 197


 Edinburgh
 756
 866
 823
 787
 778


 Glenochil
 670
 750
 669
 667
 668


 Greenock
 255
 330
 318
 281
 303


 Inverness
 104
 162
 147
 147
 153


 Kilmarnock
 500
 644
 641
 645
 636


 Open Estate
 425
 519
 493
 486
 479


 Perth
 722
 801
 484
 596
 639


 Peterhead
 306
 306
 303
 305
 304


 Polmont
 623
 700
 669
 658
 622


 Shotts
 537
 549
 539
 537
 539



  

 
 2008


 Daily Average Population
 Month


 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9


 Aberdeen
 237
 246
 239
 227
 232
 235
 223
 234
 249


 Barlinnie
 1,397
 1,492
 1523
 1514
 1506
 1524
 1599
 1671
 1727


 Cornton Vale
 368
 396
 380
 381
 381
 401
 385
 409
 432


 Dumfries
 197
 200
 195
 198
 197
 202
 195
 215
 217


 Edinburgh
 786
 805
 830
 814
 819
 842
 850
 862
 892


 Glenochil
 669
 670
 690
 718
 719
 718
 719
 739
 751


 Greenock
 311
 312
 303
 312
 309
 302
 312
 325
 330


 Inverness
 152
 148
 146
 147
 148
 144
 144
 165
 153


 Kilmarnock
 597
 621
 644
 648
 641
 649
 647
 647
 646


 Open Estate
 465
 470
 443
 377
 339
 339
 354
 353
 348


 Perth
 669
 728
 738
 748
 747
 763
 776
 776
 784


 Peterhead
 305
 304
 303
 303
 305
 305
 305
 306
 306


 Polmont
 655
 675
 677
 688
 669
 674
 692
 694
 695


 Shotts
 538
 537
 539
 540
 539
 538
 541
 539
 544

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the acceptable operational occupancy limit is for each prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table illustrates the design capacity and assessed operational limit for each establishment.

  

 Establishment
 Design Capacity
 Assessed Operational Limit


 Aberdeen
 155
 255


 Barlinnie
 1,018
 1,692


 Cornton Vale
 375
 440


 Dumfries
 179
 216


 Edinburgh
 756
 866


 Glenochil Prison
 670
 750


 Greenock
 255
 330


 Inverness
 104
 162


 Kilmarnock
 500
 644


 Open Estate
 425
 519


 Perth
 722
 801


 Peterhead
 306
 306


 Polmont
 623
 700


 Shotts
 537
 549

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the highest number of prisoners was in each prison in each of the last three months.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table illustrates the maximum daily population for each establishment in each of the last three months.

  Max of Actual Population Each Month

  

 
 Month


 July
 August
 September


 Aberdeen
 233
 244
 263


 Barlinnie
 1,694
 1,690
 1,763


 Cornton Vale
 395
 419
 434


 Dumfries
 201
 220
 225


 Edinburgh
 867
 881
 911


 Glenochil Prison
 722
 751
 755


 Greenock
 334
 346
 344


 Inverness
 158
 180
 167


 Kilmarnock
 651
 652
 651


 Open Estate
 300
 296
 296


 Perth
 797
 793
 803


 Peterhead
 306
 307
 306


 Polmont
 707
 705
 708


 Shotts
 543
 542
 549

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans there are to deal with a sudden loss of prison capacity.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS has in place contingency plans which take into consideration the loss of prisoner accommodation throughout the prison estate. These plans are reviewed and tested on a regular basis.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the significance is of a safe operating limit in the Scottish Prison Service.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS has established an Assessed Operational Limit, not a "safe operating limit".

  The Assessed Operational Limit (AOL) has been agreed with each establishment’s Governor and reflects the number of prisoners that an establishment can safely contain whilst at the same time allow the establishment to operate within its legal obligations. The AOL takes into consideration such aspects of the establishment as the capacity of the visits area, the kitchen and the ability to deliver appropriate levels of healthcare and hygiene. The AOL for each establishment is only sustainable in the medium term. If numbers remain high for a protracted period the difficulties associated with operating at the limit are such that, in all probability, limits would need to be revised downwards. The AOL is a dynamic assessment and the situation, and risks, within each establishment are managed, monitored and reviewed continuously.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what stage the design and construction procurement process for the new prison at Low Moss has reached.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive by what date it expects the new prison at Low Moss to be opened.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The procurement process for HM Prison Bishopbriggs is underway and short-listed bidders are preparing their tender proposals. The SPS expect to award a contract for the design and construction of the prison next summer. The prison opening date will be set following receipt of these proposals.